Blowing device for balloon

ABSTRACT

A blowing device for inflating a balloon has a hollow body having a first end and a second end and including an internal air passage through these ends. The first end is connectable with the mouth of a balloon for air to be blown into the balloon from the second end via the air passage. An air valve in the air passage is operable to block passage of air escaping from inside the balloon in a direction from the first end to the second end. Also included are a light effect generator operated by a battery, and an operating member for turning on and off the light effect generator.

The present invention relates to a blowing device for balloon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blowing devices for use in blowing balloons are generally known, but thevast majority if not all is designed only for use as a blower. In termsof functionality, they are often put aside after balloons have beeninflated. In terms of fun to use, they simply lack.

The invention seeks to eliminate or at least to mitigate suchshortcomings by providing a new or otherwise improved blowing device forballoon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a blowing device forballoon, comprising a hollow body having a first end and a second endand including an internal air passage through the first and second ends.The first end is connectable with the mouth/neck of a balloon for air tobe blown into a said balloon from the second end via the air passage. Anair valve in the air passage is operable to block passage of airescaping from inside a said balloon in a direction from the first end tothe second end. Also included are an effect generator provided at thebody, which is operated by battery, and operating means provided at thebody for turning on and off the effect generator.

Preferably, the effect generator comprises at least one of a lightgenerator and a sound generator.

More preferably, the effect generator comprises a light generator whichincludes a light source located at or adjacent the first end of thebody.

It is preferred that the air valve includes a valve member arranged tobe acted upon by air inside a said balloon to close the air valve.

It is further preferred that the valve member extends across the airpassage and faces the interior of the balloon for action by air inside asaid balloon.

It is further preferred that the valve member is provided at the firstend of the body.

In a preferred embodiment, the air valve includes a valve memberextending across the first end of the body for being acted upon by airinside a said balloon to close the air valve, with the light sourceprovided behind the valve member.

More preferably, the valve member is made of transparent or translucentmaterial.

In a preferred embodiment, the air valve includes a valve seat providedby a part of the body.

More preferably, the valve seat is provided by the first end of thebody.

More preferably, the valve seat is of a flat-cylindrical shape andextends radially outwardly of the body for receiving the valve member.

Further more preferably, the valve seat comprises a flange around thefirst end of the body, which flange presents a right-angled step forengaging the mouth of a said balloon.

It is preferred that the effect generator is provided at the valvemember.

It is preferred that the light source is provided at the valve member.

In a preferred embodiment, the operating means includes an operatingmember supported for movement in the body to a closed position,resulting in closing of a power circuit of the effect generator.

More preferably, the operating member is arranged to move with a or thevalve member of the air valve.

Further more preferably, the operating member is connected with thevalve member for simultaneous movement.

Further more preferably, the operating member is arranged to move in onedirection to turn on the effect generator and to move in the oppositedirection to move the valve member to an open position of the air valve.

It is preferred that the operating means includes an operating partarranged to move the operating member in one direction to the closedposition and in the opposite direction off the closed position.

It is further preferred that the operating part is provided at thesecond end of the body.

Advantageously, the air valve is normally-closed to block passage of airescaping from inside a said balloon.

In a preferred embodiment, the air valve is in use normally-closed toblock passage of air escaping from inside a said balloon, and the airvalve comprises a valve seat and a valve member which is arranged toengage the valve seat, thereby closing the air valve, under the actionof pressurized air inside a said balloon.

More preferably, the air valve is provided at the first end of the bodyand is operated by means of an operating member extending from the valvemember to the second end of the body, the operating member being movableby a force applied at the second end to open the air valve.

It is preferred that the air valve and the effect generator are arrangedto operate, in that they turn on and turn off, in a complementarymanner.

It is preferred that the body comprises a cylindrical tube having acentral axis along which the air valve and the effect generator areprovided in a co-axial arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a blowingdevice for balloon in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the blowing device of FIG. 1,with an air valve thereof open and an effect generator thereof in an offstate; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view corresponding to FIG. 2, showingthe air valve closed and the effect generator in an on state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a blowingdevice 10 for balloon embodying the invention, which blowing device 10has a hollow body 100 with a first end 110 and a second end 120 andincluding an internal air passage P through the first and second ends110 and 120. The body 100 is in the form of a cylindrical tube. Itsfirst end 110 (or front end 110 as hereinafter referred to) isconnectable with, by being stretched and disposed thereupon, a mouth 21of a balloon 20 for air to be blown via the air passage P into theballoon 20 by a user from the second end 120, or rear end 120 ashereinafter referred to. There is an air valve 200 provided in the airpassage P, which is operable to block passage of air escaping frominside the balloon 20 in a direction from the front end 110 to the rearend 120, such that the balloon 20 may stay inflated. The air valve 200is preferably normally-closed to block passage of air escaping frominside the balloon 20.

The blowing device 10 also includes an effect generator 300 provided atthe body 100, which is operated by battery and serves to add fun, andoperating means 400 also provided at the body 100 for turning on and offthe effect generator 300. The tubular body 100 has a central axis alongwhich the air valve 200 and the effect generator 300 are provided in aco-axial arrangement.

Generally stated, the effect generator 300 comprises at least one of alight generator and a sound generator. In the described embodiment, theeffect generator 300 comprises a light generator 300 which includes alight source 310 located at or adjacent the front end 110 of the body100 for in use shining light directly into the balloon 20. The lightsource 210 is implemented by an LED bulb 210.

The air valve 200 includes a valve member 210 and a valve seat 220 withwhich the valve member 210 co-operates to perform valve closing andopening functions. The valve member 210 is provided at the front end 110of the body 100, and so is the valve seat 220. The valve seat 220 isprovided by the front end 110, which is an integral part of the body100. The valve seat 220 (i.e. the front end 110) is of aflat-cylindrical shape and extends radially outwardly of the body 100for receiving the valve member 210.

With the tubular body 100 being cylindrical in shape, the valve seat 220is shaped likewise but is relatively wider and much shorter to form ahead 220A of the body 100 with a shape resembling that of the letter “T”in cross-section taken along the central axis. The T-shaped head 220Aacts as a radially-protruding barrier for reliably engaging and holdingthe balloon 20, by its mouth (or neck) 21 from inside, to stay on theblowing device 10. In particular, the T-shaped head 220A includes acircular flange at and around the front end 110 of the body 100, whichflange in cross-section provides a lateral protrusion 220B whichprojects at right angles from the peripheral surface of the body 100 andrepresents a right-angled step, acting as the said barrier, for engagingthe balloon's month 21.

The valve member 210 has a round shape, more specifically resembling ahat with a cylindrical crown and a flat annular brim, and is made of atransparent or translucent material. The valve member 210 extendsacross, and partially within, the T-shaped front end 110 of the body 100and hence across the air passage P, in a position in use facing theinterior of the balloon 20 (through the mouth 21 thereof) for beingaction upon by pressurized air inside the balloon 20, thereby closingthe air valve 200 and keeping it closed.

The effect generator 300 and in particular the LED bulb 310 is providedat or behind the valve member 210, being located within the crown partof the valve member 210. With the valve member 210 in use facing theinterior of the balloon 20, the LED bulb 310 shines light directly intothe balloon 20, thereby illuminating the balloon 20 from inside to makeit visually attractive to play with or for display.

The LED bulb 310 has a first terminal 311 of its two terminals 311/312extended rearwardly and then folded to form a space Q with the secondterminal 312, in which space Q a pile of three battery cells 313 arelocated co-axially right behind the LED bulb 310 for energizing thesame. The two terminals 311/312 with the battery cells 313 together forma power circuit, which is normally-open by presence of a gap R leftbetween a free end 311A of the first terminal 311 and an exposed cathode313A of the last battery cell 313. The power circuit is completed uponpressing of the terminal end 311A against the cathode 313A, therebyclosing the gap R and hence turning on the LED bulb 310.

The LED bulb 310 and the battery cells 313 together form a light module300A of a shape resembling that of a plug.

Turning now to the operating means 400, it is provided by an oblongoperating member 410 disposed co-axially in the tubular body 100, andincludes an operating part preferably in the form of a tubular knob 420connected co-axially at the rear end 120. The operating member 410 has atube-like body with an end cap 411 at its front end and two oblongcutouts in its opposite sides to form a pair of legs 412, each having afree end with a rearward-facing step 413 on its outer surface. A bridge414 extends diametrically across the two legs 412, at a position axiallybehind the end cap 411. The knob 420 has an annular track 421 formed bya step on and around its inner surface, which includes a pair ofdiametrically-opposite raised portions providing respective cams 422.The knob 420 includes a bridge 423 extending diametrically acrossopposite sides of the knob's inner surface.

Externally, the end cap 411 locates and carries the valve member 210,with the latter snap-fitted co-axially over and around the former.Internally, the end cap 411 holds the light module 300A co-axiallytherein, with the LED bulb 310 pointing forward. The end cap 411 is madeof a transparent (or translucent) material such that the LED bulb 310may shine light through the end cap 411 as well as the valve member 210and into the balloon 20.

For assembling, the operating member 410 is inserted rearwardly into thebody 100 via the front end 110, with its two legs 412 then projectingout from the rear end 120 and connecting with the knob 420. The legs 412latch with the knob 420 by its steps 413 with the latter's track 421,for cam action with the respective cams 422.

During insertion, the legs 412 extend past the bridge 414 therebetweenand finally stop at an axial position with the light module 300A and inparticular its terminal end 311A reaching just short of the bridge 414(FIG. 2). In this position, the terminal end 311A stays off the cathode313A (i.e. the gap R unaffected), so the LED bulb 310 stays turned off.This condition corresponds to an OFF position of the operating member410, as opposed to an ON position thereof, between which positions theoperating member 410 is movable by the knob 420 upon turning in oppositedirections.

In the ON position, the operating member 410 moves on with the terminalend 311A being stopped by the bridge 414 (FIG. 3), thereby the terminalend 311A takes on the cathode 313A and hence comes into contacttherewith (i.e. the gap R closed) and so the LED bulb 310 is turned on.

The operating member 410 is subject to the aforesaid cam action broughtabout by the knob 420, in which its legs 412 are moved from a restposition to a raised position on the track 412 when their steps 413 arepushed up by the respective cams 422 when the knob 420 is turned. Thelegs 412 will be allowed to return to the rest position upon reverseturning of the knob 420.

In the rest position, the valve member 210 (which is carried by theoperating member 410) stays off the valve seat 220 (FIG. 2), so that theair valve 200 is open to allow air to be blown through the blowingdevice 10 into the balloon 20, corresponding to an OPEN position of theoperating member 410.

Towards the raised position, the operating member 410 is moved up by thecams 422 in a direction that is rearward relative to the body 100, withthe result that it brings the valve member 210 into contact with thevalve seat 220, thereby closing the valve 200 (FIG. 3). In thisposition, the air valve 200 is shut off to block air escaping frominside the balloon 20 (thereby keeping the balloon 20 inflated),corresponding to a CLOSED position of the operating member 410.

Generally stated, the operating member 410 is supported for movement inthe body 100 to the CLOSED position, resulting in closing of the powercircuit of the effect generator 300, and is arranged to move with thevalve member 210 of the air valve 200. For simplicity, the operatingmember 410 is connected with the valve member 210 for simultaneousmovement therewith.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the OFF position ofthe operating member 410 is also its OPEN position (FIG. 2) and that theON position corresponds to its CLOSED position (FIG. 3). The operatingmember 410 is movable by the knob 420 in one direction to the ON/CLOSEDposition (to turn on the effect generator 300 and close the air valve200) and in the opposite direction off the ON/CLOSED position to theOFF/OPEN position (to turn off the effect generator 300 and open the airvalve 200).

In all, the air valve 200 is closed (i.e. turned off) when the effectgenerator 300 is turned on, and it is open (i.e. turned on) when theeffect generator 300 is turned off. Thus, the air valve 200 and theeffect generator 300 are arranged to operate, in that they turn on andturn off, in a complementary manner.

The blowing device 10 offers an additional function which isparticularly useful, in that while staying attached to the balloon 20 itallows the balloon 20 to deflate upon a simple user's action. Asdescribed above, the valve member 210 is arranged to engage the valveseat 220 under the action of pressurized air inside the balloon 20,thereby closing the air valve 200 or keeping the same closed. The airvalve 200 is in use normally-closed to block passage of air escapingfrom inside the balloon 20.

The air valve 200 is provided at the front end 110 of the body 120 andis operated by means of the operating member 410, which extends from thevalve member 210 to reach the rear end 120 of the body 100, where theoperating member 410 latches by its free ends bearing the steps 413 withthe knob 420. By pressing upon its free ends through the knob 420, theoperating member 410 may be pushed slightly inwards, against the actionof the pressurized air inside the balloon 20, to such an extentsufficient to separate the valve member 210 from the valve seat 220,thereby opening the air valve 200 and hence allowing the balloon 20 todeflate. The balloon 20 may then be stored away and re-used. This isanother advantage of using the blowing device 10.

It is noted that the force pushing the operating member 410 inwards isapplied at the body's rear end 120 (i.e. through the knob 420). Also,the extent to which the operating member 410 may be pushed inwardscorresponds to, or is provided by, the degree of movement of the valvemember 210 to reach the valve seat 220 under the action of thepressurized air inside the balloon 20. In all, there is a certain degreeof freedom of movement of the valve member 210 relative to the valveseat 220, which is only marginal but sufficient to allow self-closing ofthe air valve 200 by the air inside the balloon 20 and/or manual openingby a user, i.e. from the outside by pushing the operating member 410inwards.

In a slightly different embodiment, the valve seat 220 (i.e. the frontend 110) is of a trumpet or bell shape. The valve seat 220 is flaredoutwardly of the body 100 for receiving the valve member 210, with thevalve member 210 extending across, and partially within, the bell-shapedfront end 110 of the body 100 and hence across the air passage P forshutting off or opening the air passage P.

The blowing device 10 according to the subject invention is designed tostay attached to keep the balloon 20 inflated and to add fun by way oflight and/or sound effect brought about by the effect generator 300.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and variousmodifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may bemade by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope ofthe invention as specified in the appended claims.

1. A blowing device for inflating a balloon, comprising: a hollow bodyhaving a first end and a second end and including an internal airpassage through the first and second ends, the first end beingconnectable with a mouth of a balloon for permitting air to be blowninto the balloon from the second end via the air passage; an air valvein the air passage, the air valve being operable to block passage of airescaping from inside the balloon in a direction from the first end tothe second end; an effect generator provided at the body, the effectgenerator being operated by a battery; and operating means provided atthe body for turning on and off the effect generator.
 2. The blowingdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the effect generator comprises atleast one of a light generator and a sound generator.
 3. The blowingdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air valve includes a valvemember arranged to be acted upon by air inside the balloon to close theair valve.
 4. The blowing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein thevalve member extends across the air passage and faces the interior ofthe balloon for action by air inside the balloon.
 5. The blowing deviceas claimed in claim 3, wherein the valve member is provided at the firstend of the body.
 6. The blowing device as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe effect generator comprises a light generator which includes a lightsource located at or adjacent the first end of the body, and the airvalve includes a valve member extending across the first end of the bodyfor being acted upon by air inside the balloon to close the air valve,with the light source provided behind the valve member.
 7. The blowingdevice as claimed in claim 3, wherein the air valve includes a valveseat provided by a part of the body.
 8. The blowing device as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the valve seat has a flat-cylindrical shape and extendsradially outwardly of the body for receiving the valve member.
 9. Theblowing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the valve seat comprises aflange around the first end of the body, which flange presents aright-angled step for engaging the mouth of the balloon.
 10. The blowingdevice as claimed in claim 3, wherein the effect generator is providedat the valve member.
 11. The blowing device as claimed in claim 3,wherein the effect generator comprises a light generator which includesa light source located at or adjacent the first end of the body, and thelight source is provided at the valve member.
 12. The blowing device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the operating means includes an operatingmember supported for movement in the body to a closed position,resulting in closing of a power circuit of the effect generator.
 13. Theblowing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the operating member isarranged to move with a valve member of the air valve.
 14. The blowingdevice as claimed in claim 13, wherein the operating member is connectedwith the valve member for simultaneous movement.
 15. The blowing deviceas claimed in claim 13, wherein the operating member is arranged to movein a first direction to turn on the effect generator and to move in asecond direction, opposite the first direction, to move the valve memberto an open position of the air valve.
 16. The blowing device as claimedin claim 12, wherein the operating means includes an operating partarranged to move the operating member in a first direction to the closedposition and in a second direction, opposite the first direction, offthe closed position.
 17. The blowing device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the air valve is, in use, normally-closed to block passage ofair escaping from inside the balloon, and the air valve comprises avalve seat and a valve member which is arranged to engage the valveseat, thereby closing the air valve, under the action of pressurized airinside the balloon.
 18. The blowing device as claimed in claim 17,wherein the air valve is provided at the first end of the body and isoperated by means of an operating member extending from the valve memberto the second end of the body, the operating member being movable by aforce applied at the second end to open the air valve.
 19. The blowingdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air valve and the effectgenerator turn on and turn off, in a complementary manner.
 20. Theblowing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body comprises acylindrical tube having a central axis along which the air valve and theeffect generator are provided in a co-axial arrangement.